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Patches and discussion for Ensoniq VFX family

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Thread

transpose problem

transpose problem

2012-03-31 by fddi

Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is 
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is 
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at 
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0  +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose 
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

try a hardware reset first
if it persists it the voice chip that deals with pitch
as is all functions of the synth engine otto1 voice chip
where do you live uk or usa
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 12:14 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0 +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

2012-04-01 by River Of Life

There is a tune parameter on the system page also. Check that.

Vince


At 07:14 PM 3/31/2012, you wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text


Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0 +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick

Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by Tal Rodriguez

Like Vince said ...

Press the System Master button once. You will find the "tune" function on the top left. Press the button one more time and on the bottom right you will find the "system pitch table". Make sure that is set to "normal".

Please let us know how it goes for you,
Tal Rodriguez

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by samuelcraig

I did and it is. Craig

Sent from my iPad
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On Mar 31, 2012, at 6:36 PM, Tal Rodriguez <tal.rodriguez@...> wrote:

> Like Vince said ...
> 
> Press the System Master button once. You will find the "tune" function on the top left. Press the button one more time and on the bottom right you will find the "system pitch table". Make sure that is set to "normal".
> 
> Please let us know how it goes for you,
>  
> Tal Rodriguez
> 
> 
> 
> TODAY(Beta) • Powered by Yahoo!
> Could chocolate demand exceed supply?
> The world's appetite for the treat grows every year, but it is difficult to produce more cocoa.
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Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi

the tune parameter is working the transose is not... and all the keys perform 2 tones above normal...
If it is a problem of the otto chip is possible replace it ?
it is difficult nowdays to find someone who is able to repair these keyboards...

thanks

Rick

On 4/1/12 2:16 AM, River Of Life wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text

There is a tune parameter on the system page also. Check that.

Vince


At 07:14 PM 3/31/2012, you wrote:



Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0 +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi


I live in Italy... very few people have ensoniq experience here...


On 4/1/12 2:15 AM, jammie wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text

try a hardware reset first
if it persists it the voice chip that deals with pitch
as is all functions of the synth engine otto1 voice chip
where do you live uk or usa
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 12:14 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0 +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi

I did an hard reset.
Here is the situation.
Now the transpose works but all the keyboard with transpose data set to +0 +00 is one half tone down the standard.
So it is detuned or down transposed of an half tone. So for every patch I want to play I have to transpose it UP in the transpose page.
When I select another patch to play, this one is detuned and I have to transpose it, the transpose setting of the previous one
is lost... so basically for every patch I select I must go to the transpose page and set it to +00 +01 to have a normal 440Hz sound
coming out. Is this normal ?? I so not think so...
any hints ?

thank you very much for now

Rick


On 4/1/12 3:36 AM, Tal Rodriguez wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
Like Vince said ...

Press the System Master button once. You will find the "tune" function on the top left. Press the button one more time and on the bottom right you will find the "system pitch table". Make sure that is set to "normal".

Please let us know how it goes for you,
Tal Rodriguez

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

yes you can change the chip but getting one is your problem
the ottis
not otto the otto is used in the ts10
;
the ottis is used in the vfx the sd1 the sq1/2/sqr1+/sq1+ ks32
so you have a few synths that use it syntaur does not have any spare
so you need to try thesonic as he might be the only one with a spare chip
first check if your chip is socketed some are socketed and some are soldered in
if yours is socketed try pushing on it to make sure its firmly in place as they can move over time
on the ts10/12 forum some one had the same problem with there otto chip and he had to replace his
hope this helps
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 9:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] transpose problem

the tune parameter is working the transose is not... and all the keys perform 2 tones above normal...
If it is a problem of the otto chip is possible replace it ?
it is difficult nowdays to find someone who is able to repair these keyboards...

thanks

Rick

On 4/1/12 2:16 AM, River Of Life wrote:

There is a tune parameter on the system page also. Check that.

Vince


At 07:14 PM 3/31/2012, you wrote:



Hello...
only today after a few days my SD-1 arrived I Realized the keyboard is
completely detuned!
the SD1 plays something like 2 tones higher than normal like if it is
transposed.
I checked for the transpose page and the patches are not transposed at
all and the values in the transpse page are: +0 +00
but here with great surprise I noticed that changing the transpose
parameter is useless, they are completely ignored!!
Is there something I am missing or this is just a broken SD-1 ??
thank you very much

Rick


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

can you take out your mother board and send it to me ican put a logic anylizer on it to see whats going on and can check my 2 working synths to see how they are supposed to perform
synth and sampler repair
42 glastonbury crescent
walsall
ws3 2rf
united kingdom
as for the poly at i have just got a spare kpc emulator that im going to down grade and test to see if it workin solving the sd1 poly at problem
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

I did an hard reset.
Here is the situation.
Now the transpose works but all the keyboard with transpose data set to +0 +00 is one half tone down the standard.
So it is detuned or down transposed of an half tone. So for every patch I want to play I have to transpose it UP in the transpose page.
When I select another patch to play, this one is detuned and I have to transpose it, the transpose setting of the previous one
is lost... so basically for every patch I select I must go to the transpose page and set it to +00 +01 to have a normal 440Hz sound
coming out. Is this normal ?? I so not think so...
any hints ?

thank you very much for now

Rick


On 4/1/12 3:36 AM, Tal Rodriguez wrote:

Like Vince said ...

Press the System Master button once. You will find the "tune" function on the top left. Press the button one more time and on the bottom right you will find the "system pitch table". Make sure that is set to "normal".

Please let us know how it goes for you,
;
Tal Rodriguez

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by Tal Rodriguez

This is just me, and I am one very hard headed person - with a little OCD thrown in.

I would try the hard boot several times since doing it that once had an affect.

Also, I once read where power cycling it 7 times has a type of hard boot affect on it. On the 7th time you come up with the Reinitalize? screen. The only thing is that the instructions did not specify what point in the boot cycle to restart the power cycle. So that could be a "crap shoot" so to speak, and could possibly mess something up. I think I tried it one time but I don't remember what result I had from it. You might want to email this guy in California. He is the only person that I know of in the USA that has parts and can work on Ensoniq stuff ...

thesoniq@...

I don't know if he has any knowledge about this power cycle thing or not but it can't hurt to ask.
Tal Rodriguez

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

yes if you email him he is very helpful and he can tel you if he has spare parts
;
he will also help you diagnose your problem and will tell you if its the ottis chip that is the cuase
as it could be a psu issue to
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

This is just me, and I am one very hard headed person - with a little OCD thrown in.

I would try the hard boot several times since doing it that once had an affect.

Also, I once read where power cycling it 7 times has a type of hard boot affect on it. On the 7th time you come up with the Reinitalize? screen. The only thing is that the instructions did not specify what point in the boot cycle to restart the power cycle. So that could be a "crap shoot" so to speak, and could possibly mess something up. I think I tried it one time but I don't remember what result I had from it. You might want to email this guy in California. He is the only person that I know of in the USA that has parts and can work on Ensoniq stuff ...

thesoniq@...

I don't know if he has any knowledge about this power cycle thing or not but it can't hurt to ask.
Tal Rodriguez

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi

Thank you or all your hints and help.
I dismounted all the keyboard and cleaned off 21 years of dust.
The 4 front panel screw are kinda damaged they are no more holding the panel firmly. Anyway this is also on my ESQ1.
So I dismounted te keyboard and I cleaned everything with compressed air.
I pushed the OTIS chip with my finger it did not look loosebut I did it anyway.
I reassembled everything.
I Started the SD1, I did Hard Reset. I touched the C central note and... suddently it was te correct one!!!
IT got fixed I do not know for whatever reason, thank you very much for all the good hints you gave me!!
Anyway I noticed something strange on hte motherboard. The chip to the left side of the OTIS has a kind of shorten circuit
soldered on it. I did pictures.

http://imageshack.us/f/62/img0106gd.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/f/848/img0105nm.jpg/
Show quoted textHide quoted text
Is this thing normal in your opinion ?
it looks weird to me. this is a socketed chip, by the way als othe OTIS is inserted into a socket and it is not soldered.

Definitely the aftertouch is not working at all... the firwmare is 3.00 and KPC is 2.33
could the problem of aftertouch be due to KPC version ?

thank you very much!!!

Rick

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by Claus

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi


I just dismounted the keys module, but I do not know how to dismount the single keys.
Do I need to dismount the single keys to check the pcb ?

thanks

Rick


On 4/1/12 8:38 PM, Claus wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

hi rick try and get a eps kpc board as you dont have to press to hard to get the poly at working
you should not have to press as hard as you have to on the sd1
its hard to regulate the pressure when you have to press so hard
when i changed the kpc board from the eps i could add different amount of pressure and could get the filter to sweep perfectly like i can on the eps16+ asr10 and ts10 and sq80
glad it worked out for you pressing in the ottis chip most proberly did the trick
and i always do that first including removing and and using deoxit for good contact i also do this for all cable connections aswell as humidity can oxidise contacts which can cuase resistance and upsetting the system
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: Claus
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus

Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by jammie

if there was a problem with the keyboard yopu would have a calibration error
as seeing you are not then all is working well
i think its just the os 2.23 thats the problem
the os tells the scanner logic chip what to do and obviously its doing its job right as there is no error flag for the calibration
i think its sensitivety is set to high as its a measure of magnetic force on these coil boards there no actual contact which is good as there is nothing to where out
so when you press harder the magnetic force is stronger becuase the metal plate is closer to the coils
its this magnetic force that the scanner cpu measures for each key
so thats 21 potential poly at signals at 1 time
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Cc: Claus
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 8:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem


I just dismounted the keys module, but I do not know how to dismount the single keys.
Do I need to dismount the single keys to check the pcb ?

thanks

Rick


On 4/1/12 8:38 PM, Claus wrote:

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus


Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-01 by fddi

I got one time calibration error, but only one time and never again...
so I should try to find a EPS KPC board ?

thanks

Rick


On 4/1/12 9:27 PM, jammie wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text

if there was a problem with the keyboard yopu would have a calibration error
as seeing you are not then all is working well
i think its just the os 2.23 thats the problem
the os tells the scanner logic chip what to do and obviously its doing its job right as there is no error flag for the calibration
i think its sensitivety is set to high as its a measure of magnetic force on these coil boards there no actual contact which is good as there is nothing to where out
so when you press harder the magnetic force is stronger becuase the metal plate is closer to the coils
its this magnetic force that the scanner cpu measures for each key
so thats 21 potential poly at signals at 1 time
----- Original Message -----
From: fddi
Cc: Claus
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 8:14 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem


I just dismounted the keys module, but I do not know how to dismount the single keys.
Do I need to dismount the single keys to check the pcb ?

thanks

Rick


On 4/1/12 8:38 PM, Claus wrote:

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus



Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

2012-04-05 by fddi

Hello,
is this the board I would need ??

http://www.syntaur.com/4007.html

is it easy to replace ? I could buy it from syntaur...

Rick


On 4/1/12 9:15 PM, jammie wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text

hi rick try and get a eps kpc board as you dont have to press to hard to get the poly at working
you should not have to press as hard as you have to on the sd1
its hard to regulate the pressure when you have to press so hard
when i changed the kpc board from the eps i could add different amount of pressure and could get the filter to sweep perfectly like i can on the eps16+ asr10 and ts10 and sq80
glad it worked out for you pressing in the ottis chip most proberly did the trick
and i always do that first including removing and and using deoxit for good contact i also do this for all cable connections aswell as humidity can oxidise contacts which can cuase resistance and upsetting the system
----- Original Message -----
From: Claus
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2012 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Re: transpose problem

Hi Rick!

I have the OS3.0 and KPC 2.33 also. Aftertouch is working, but the "usual" hard touch needed, evdn set at most sensitive.
Have You removed the keys and checked the PCB coils underneath the keys? My VFX-SD once (~18 years ago) had a coil with a broken lane, which made the aftertouch unresponsive, or erratic at best. Floatet on a very thin layer of solder, and have worked since.

--

The component You see is normal and should of course not be removed ;)

Best,
Claus


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